THE Clarksons of New York are descended from a Yorkshire family, which, from very early times, was settled at Bradford, in the West-Riding.

Very little is known of their history before the period of the Stuarts, but at the accession of James I. the Clarksons were in the enjoyment of wealth and "possessed of that moral worth and social influence which caused them to be ranked among the leading inhabitants of the town."

"In former days," says a local historian, "Bradford possessed many desirable qualities as a residence. Its neighborhood was diversified and picturesque,

and full of charming scenery. Its inhabitants were mostly well-to-do, respectable people, farming their own land and carrying on quietly, but lucratively, the worsted manufacture at their own homes. The state of agriculture was, indeed, very primitive, but some good husbandry prevailed. Almost wholly engrossed with these pursuits its men of wealth sought no higher distinction, and were content to be accounted first-class yeomen. Thus their industry and unceasing attention to business enabled them, in the words of the facetious Fuller, 'to proceed gentlemen, gaining estates for themselves and worship to their estates.""

Approaching from the east, the road descended the hill, leaving Bowling-Hall on the left, and entered the town at Goodman's End. The main streets, called Ivegate and Westgate, running east and west, were a continuation of Goodman's End. They were separated by the market-place, from which Kirkgate led to the old parish church, with its great solid square tower, rising ninety feet high. A street called afterwards Dead-lane, from the heaps of slain, connected Goodman's End with Kirkgate near the church; Barker End was directly in the rear of Dead-lane.

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